Accountability is not persecution – Ing. Abeiku Hayford to NPP

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary hopeful, Ing. Abeiku Hayford, has rejected claims that investigations into the alleged misuse of state resources under the previous administration amount to political persecution.

According to him, public officials who are accused of misusing state resources must be prepared to account for their stewardship, insisting that political affiliation cannot be used as a shield against accountability.

Speaking on Kesmi FM in Tamale, Ing. Hayford said attempts to portray investigations and prosecutions as a political witch-hunt were misplaced.

“The NPP also wants to create the impression that asking public officials to account for the use of state resources amounts to political persecution. That argument cannot stand,” he said.

He argued that if individuals who allegedly misappropriated or misused public funds are investigated and required to account for their actions, describing the process as a witch-hunt does not remove the responsibility to answer questions about the use of public resources.

“If people who allegedly swindled or misused public funds are being investigated and made to account for their stewardship, and they choose to describe that as a witch-hunt, then more witches will be hunted,” Ing. Hayford stated.

He stressed that the recovery and protection of public resources must remain a priority for any government committed to good governance.

“No one can steal from the people of Ghana and expect to walk away without being held accountable. Accountability is not persecution; it is the foundation of good governance and the rule of law,” he added.

The General Secretary of the NDC Former Parliamentary Aspirants Association also dismissed suggestions that political affiliation could provide immunity from the law.

“Under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, the law applies equally to everyone. Whether you belong to the NDC or NPP, due process will take its course,” he said.

Ing. Hayford called on politicians to allow due process to work and avoid creating the impression that lawful investigations are automatically politically motivated.

He said Ghanaians expect leaders to protect public resources, uphold accountability and concentrate on issues that will improve the living conditions of citizens.